Biosynthesis of methanofuran in Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum

The 13C NMR signals of methanofuran were assigned by two-dimensional 1H and 13C NMR experiments. On this basis, the incorporation of 13C-labeled acetate and pyruvate into methanofuran by growing cells of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum was analyzed by one- and two-dimensional 13C NMR experiments. The data were analyzed by a retrobiosynthetic approach based on a comparison of labeling patterns in a variety of metabolites. The data show that the furan ring is formed by condensation of two molecules from the pyruvate/triose pool. The tetracarbocylic acid moiety is assembled from ketoglutarate, two molecules of acetyl CoA, and one molecule of carbon dioxide.